If the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus experiences a cost for maintaining one or more antibiotic-resistance genes, what would be most likely to happen in environments that lack antibiotics?
A) These bacteria would maintain the antibiotic-resistance genes in case the antibiotics reappear.
B) These bacteria would be outcompeted and replaced by bacteria that have lost the antibiotic resistance genes.
C) These bacteria would try to make the cost worthwhile by locating and migrating to microenvironments where traces of antibiotics are present.
D) These bacteria would increase the number of genes conveying antibiotic resistance.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In environments lacking antibiotics, bacteria that carry the cost of maintaining antibiotic-resistance genes without gaining any benefit from them are likely to be outcompeted by bacteria that do not bear this cost. This is because the energy and resources spent on maintaining these genes could have been used for other growth or reproduction processes, making the bacteria without these genes more fit for the antibiotic-free environment.

If the Bacterium Staphylococcus Aureus Experiences a Cost for Maintaining